AB: Hello again, Butterflies! One more chapter after this one, and I am so excited! I've had an awesome time writing this story, and I am so thankful for every single one of you for all your support (even if you don't follow, review, or favorite). As promised, I have picked my top two title choices for the sequel, but I want to hear your opinions. The plot follows the Saturdays and how they handle the loss of loved one and how they intend to lift the Curse of Kur. The choices are: Part-time Saturday or A Grey Saturday, but if you think of a different title, please let me know in the reviews! There will be a poll posted on my profile, but you do have to have an account and be logged in to vote; if you want to vote but don't have an account, let me know in the reviews. I'll keep you posted on my profile once I determine the results.

Iris: Do Ulraj and Wadi come back into the story, AB?

AB: Of course they do! Now, Butterflies, to start the chapter. Disclaimer: The Secret Saturdays belongs to Jay Stephens and Cartoon Network. Here is Chapter 25: Four Days

(Iris's POV)

For some random reason, I remember that I have mail when I wake up the next morning. Komodo and I race out of the room, and I scour the stack of papers on the counter until I find the envelopes with my name on them. I grab them and run back to my room with Komodo right behind me. We plop down on my bed, and I tear open the envelopes. One is from Munya, and the name on the other one is illegible. I decide to read the one from Munya first. Komodo crawls closer to me, so I pet him as I unfold the paper. Something falls out, but I take no notice of it; my main focus is on the words written on the paper. Munya's voice is clear in my mind.

Dear Iris,

I know this letter finds you in a state of wondering; I am writing it in one myself. So much has happened to you over the course of your life that has made you wonder if humanity really is good. You were twisted before your ninth birthday and made to believe that those who are now the closest to you, were evil. But you have changed so much since that time.

When you came back to WeirdWorld, it was by chance that I was there; I was overjoyed to see how much you had changed and how much better you were. Iris, I know you are going to struggle, and I know you are going to find many things wrong with you, but you will pull through. WeirdWorld was an asylum for the sane and run by a madman. If you survived that, you can survive anything. Never forget that, Iris. You will be all right.

Do you remember when you were younger, and you asked me about my past, and I replied I did not remember anything? Turns out, Iris, that I do remember some things, and I am trying to return to the people and places I do remember. The picture I enclosed is one of what I used to look like and another person, though I do not remember either name. Maybe, by some unworldly chance, you might recognize the picture from somewhere.

I hope that you have been doing well with the Saturdays and that you are getting better. The Saturdays are good people, and they want the best for you.

Love,

Munya

I blink at the handwritten note before refolding it and picking up the picture. At first, I don't recognize the person in the picture. The lighting in the picture is not great, and the person is with someone else. Then I take a closer look, and I instantly recognize one of the people (the only one Munya could possibly have been) from another photo I've seen before. Does that mean the other person, a woman with wavy black hair in two braids and glasses, is who I think she is? In fact, if everyone in the picture is who I think they are, then there is going to be a lot of heartbreak when they find out.

Komodo pushes the other letter on my knee, so I put Munya's aside and open the other one. This note, in contrast to Munya's, is typed, and it seems a lot more formal, almost as if the writer were writing a business letter. I have to read it a few times to understand what she is saying. It reads:

Dear Iris,

By now, I assume you think I have abandoned any chance of you being in my custody, not that that is a bad thing. You are much safer in the Saturdays' care than in my own. They also have access to some of the world's best doctors, should you need them, which is something I cannot provide for you. In case you are wondering, though I doubt you are, I still live in Orono in the house you grew up in. The Campbells still live next door; James and Jessica are okay now, and so is Lindsey. It is funny that Lindsey still asks about you every day.

The reason for my letter is not to catch up, as nice as that would be. This is about the second will, which I am sure you have heard some about; I am the one who found it. The details and legal matters are still being worked out, but I can, if you want, give up custody of you or split custody with the Saturdays. Which ever one you choose is fine with me. The next time we see each other, which I have no doubt will be soon, we can discuss this matter more in depth. In the meantime, please think about this, but please do not mention it to the Saturdays just yet. The time will come when you may do so, Iris.

My child, there is a grave danger lurking in the world, and it is out to hurt you. Please be careful because this danger is not who, or what, you believe it to be. Only you can fight this evil, but there are people and things around you that can aid you. Help will come from the most obvious places, so be wary that you do not overlook this help. Your brother had to face a similar evil by himself, and you must do the same. I am here for you, even if you do not know it, and so are the others. Remember: you are strong, brave, smart, and a survivor. Do not forget these, my child, for you will surely fail if you do.

I bid you the best and good fortune until I see you again, Iris. You will go far in life, I know.

Sincerely,

The name is illegible. I spend fifteen minutes trying to decipher the name before showing the letter to Komodo. He shakes his head after carefully examining the signature. I think I know who wrote it, but I have no way to prove it. The signature looks rushed, as if the writer were trying to go somewhere in a hurry. What would rush a person so much as to make them sign such an urgent letter so illegibly? Is my family in danger?

"Iris, can you come here a moment?" Dr. Saturday asks the following afternoon. I haven't told anyone about the letters, so they can't be why he needs me. I stand up and, leaving my game again the others, hurry into the cockpit. Mom and Dr. Saturday are in there. They have serious expressions; I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet.

"I guess you know our secret, Iris," Mom sighs. Now, I'm confused. "You saw the document, so we're not going to lie any longer." That's what this is about?! Mom sighs and gives Dr. Saturday a look of defeat.

"You're our daughter, our biological daughter," Dr. Saturday explains with a mix of indescribable emotions.

"Yes, I saw the document, and I saw the test results, but I still don't understand the results or this whole mess. Dr. Grey said my parents put me up for adoption right after I was born and that my parents left the hospital childless. How can that be true? Who's lying? What about Zak? Why did you keep him but not me?" The tears well up in my eyes as I speak. "Whose story am I to believe?" Mom tries to hug me, but I push her away. "Don't touch me," I snap. Mom pulls back, hurt by my comment. I feel bad, but I am too upset to apologize.

Dr. Saturday tries to explain the day Zak and I were born as it actually happened, but his story falls on deaf ears. When he and Mom see that I am shut them out and have overall shut down, they decide to give me some alone to process everything. They both leave the cockpit in silence, leaving me alone in the room. The room seems a lot colder now, as does everything else around me. I fold into a ball and stare past the window and into my thoughts. What if I just stopped talking again? What if I just shut completely shut down? What would they do then?

Komodo comes in about thirty minutes later and sits with me. I don't even bother to acknowledge him; I just keep staring into my thoughts. When he asks if I am alright, I give no reply. At this point, I could care less who gets hurt by my silence because caring as gotten me nowhere but in a world of hurt. I just wish this numbness would last forever.

Despite how long I remain in the cockpit, Komodo still sits me. He does not wrap his tail around me; I cannot tell if I like it or not. Even more time passes in its cold, numb silence, but no one comes to check on me. I think they know Komodo is here with me. At least I know someone wants to be with me.

"Iris, maybe you should try talking with Doc and Drew again. I'll be right beside you," Komodo whispers once I've calmed down. I shake my head. "Please, Iris." I keep shaking my head no until Komodo gives in. We sit in silence for a long while before Komodo once again suggests I talk with Mom and Dr. Saturday. Just to appease him, I agree.

The doors close behind me as I exit the room and approach Mom and Dr. Saturday. They both seem a bit shocked to see me after my time in the cockpit. I smile weakly at them, but I do not say a word. Komodo's tail wraps around my leg, and I am reminded that I have to say the first words. I swallow my saliva and my pride and open my mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you. I didn't mean it," I apologize. Mom and Dr. Saturday both look at each other and silently communicate. They ask if I am all right now, and I tell them I am fine; in actuality, I am just as numb as I was before. If Komodo weren't making me do this, I would still be sitting in comfortably numb silence. Maybe it's not too late to make a run for it.

Dr. Saturday realizes that I am not paying attention and calls my name several times. On the seventh call, his voice registers in my distant reality. It brings me back into the present moment in this world. Dr. Saturday talks with me for a while. Our conversation doesn't include anything relating to the news. After a while of small talk, Dr. Saturday brings the topic back to the news. Why does everybody use that tactic on me?

"You don't have to call me Dr. Saturday anymore, Iris. Dad, or anything like it, will do just fine." I'm not sure I can do that, though. "And, Iris, I'm sorry for the way I've treated you these past three months."

"I forgive you, and I'm sorry for being such a nuisance."

"You're not a nuisance, Iris. I am just arrogant and overly paranoid, especially after what the Secret Scientists have put me and my family through this past year." Dr. Saturday/Dad pauses to breathe. "Do you want to know what really happened the day you and Zak were born?"

The screen turns on, and the video starts playing. There are screams of pain, so Dr. Saturday/Dad skips that part. He keeps skipping through the video until just after a child is born; realizing he went too far, Dr. Saturday/Dad rewinds until just before the child is born. He looks at me and hits play.

The video is muted, thank goodness, but I can still see how the woman struggling even after the child is born. That's when I realize the woman is having multiples. Three more children are born, but the woman passes out shortly after the last child is born.

Dr. Saturday/Dad unmutes the video as the doctor and nurses try to revive the mother. The father asks if the mother will be all right, and the doctor says yes; then the father asks about the quadruplets. The doctor says the babies will be okay. The doctor asks if the mother sustained any trauma in the past 24 hours that could have caused such an early delivery; her other injuries clearly show signs of trauma, the doctor explains.

Dr. Saturday/Dad skips ahead several hours until a nurse comes in and tells the father that two of the quadruplets did not survive, so the father says he will tell his wife when she wakes up from her sleep. The nurse apologizes for their loss and silently slips from the room. However, Dr. Saturday/Dad cuts the video off before the mother wakes up.

"The rest includes the parents leaving with the two surviving babies and the funerals for the two that did not make it. After a couple of days, Drew and I, the parents in the video, put you up for adoption because we agreed we could only handle one child; in order to make it fair, we had arranged ahead of time to keep the third child, regardless of gender. We found out you were adopted a few days later."

"That answers a lot. Thank you, Dr. Saturday, or Dad, whichever one you are."

"Dr. Saturday is fine if that is what you prefer." Dr. Saturday stares at the blank screen. "You four were so early. You were due in April but were born in January. I can only imagine who your brother and sister would be today." There is a hint of prolonged suffering in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Saturday."

"There was nothing you could have done."

To steer the conversation away from such a sad topic, I change the subject. "How many days are left in the truce?" I ask.

"Let me think."Dr. Saturday works the math out while I do the same.

"Four days!" We cry out together.

The next afternoon, there is a knock at the door. Zon screeches and hurries over to the door. Zak and Fisk race after her. I shake my head and continue working with Dr. Saturday as he tutors me. I have finally gotten past the part of the math that was causing me the most grief, but I still struggle to catch up. I wish Argost or Munya had bothered to teach me important skills such as these. I know Munya tried his best to care for me considering our situation, but I still resent everyone involved in the making of that situation.

Zak starts stuttering and blundering his sentences as he leads the person into the living room. Not wanting anyone else to know how behind I am in school, I quickly pack up the books and worksheets before Dr. Saturday can object. Once all the learning materials are packed up, I look up at the visitor. No way.

Ms. Grey stares seriously at all of us. She definitely looks better than she did after Dr. Beeman stabbed her, but she looks troubled. It's not like her to be troubled, so I'm a bit concerned now. Dr. Saturday stands up from sitting on the floor next to me and walks over to Ms. Grey; he asks if she needs anything, but she is too distracted to answer. When the question finally registers with her, Ms. Grey replies that she needs to speak with Doyle. I stand up and offer to take her to Doyle's room. She accepts my offer.

"Doyle," Ms. Grey speaks calmly to Doyle's door. The door locks in response to her voice, much to both of our dismay. "Baby, you know I had to do it. I didn't have a choice."

To my surprise, Doyle's door suddenly slides open with a loud bang. This just got interesting; I might stick around to see how this goes. Then I decide to leave and let the two exes work things out on their own. I hope this goes well, but hoping has never gotten me anywhere in life. Hoping never freed me from Argost, nor did it reunite me with my beloved father. Hoping, from what I have learned, seen, and experienced, only brings pain and suffering.

Both Ms. Grey and Doyle's voices carry throughout the airship, so I wander back over near Doyle's room to hear better. Their conversation seems pleasant, but that could change at any moment. Why am I being such a pessimist today? Is today just one of those days?

"Are you better?" Doyle asks.

"I'm better. The stupid knife left a wretched scar, though," Ms. Grey sighs. Then their voices lower; I cannot hear what they are saying, despite how close I am.

"Doyle, I'm sorry. For everything." The remorse in Ms. Grey's voice is honest and sincere.

"Do you really expect me to forgive you, Abbey?" Uh-oh. Things are starting to go south. "You hurt me; you hurt all of us. I'm sorry, Abbey, but I can never forgive you, no matter my feelings." Doyle, no! What are you doing?! "You tried to kill me and my family. That is unforgivable." Why would you say that, Doyle! Gosh, you're an idiot! She only came to apologize, not start a war.

Ms. Grey's gasp is the sound that comes from the room. I don't know if they are sitting in silence, quietly talking, or what. The silence continues for a very long time, until the sound of an object being smashed breaks it. Whatever made that sound, I hope it was nothing special. If it was something special, I hope it can be repaired. What broke?

While I try to figure what broke, Ms. Grey and Doyle start yelling at each other. Good grief, those two know how to argue. It's a wonder they ever got along in the first place. As the argument ensues, I walk away and head outside. The riddles are now on my mind, so I figure calling in a friend to help isn't too bad. But I'm in for a shock when I try to call Atka Ublureak. My Kur powers are completely gone now! I have to find Zak; things just got even more complicated!

Standing underneath a tree with Zak and Komodo beside me, I demonstrate my lack of Kur powers. At first, they think I am faking, but then they notice I am really trying. Zak realizes only he can call Atka, but Zak says he doesn't know how to since he's never met Atka before. I tell him to call Fisk and Zon out here using his Kur powers. He does so, and I tell him calling Atka will work the exact same way. Zak gives it a go and establishes contact with Atka. According to Zak, Atka will be here as soon as he can. Meanwhile, Fisk, Zon, and Komodo all head back inside the airship.

Atka arrives a few hours later. Racing outside to greet him, I grab Zak and tell him he will serve as the translator, no questions asked. The three of us converse, though it's mostly Atka and me talking while Zak translates, for a while; I tell Atka that we found the answers but that we're not sure how they connect. Atka asks for the answers, so I tell him the answers are Iris and a date. He nods and exclaims that he is impressed with us for finding the answers. I ask if he knows the story of Mashdaria, and he nods; then he says that no one knows what happened to the powers from thirteen years ago to now, but he has a theory.

As Atka wraps up the story of Mashardia, I am deep in thought. What have Iris, a date, and these powers got to do with the Curse of Kur? How can those powers be used to break the Curse? What happened thirteen years ago that brought about the disappearance of these powers?

"Iris!" Zak shouts at me.

"What, Zak? There's no need to shout; I am right here after all."

"Atka was trying to tell you something." I blush a bright red and apologize to Atka. Then Atka turns to Zak and asks him to translate. Zak nods, so Atka begins speaking. What I would give to have my Kur powers back so I could understand my friend.

"Thirteen years ago, every cryptid alive at the time felt a shift. Kur had been awakened, and we all knew it. What we didn't realize was that the powers meant to keep Kur in check were also awakened. Our only goal was to keep Kur's spirit dormant in its new host for as long as possible; no one bothered to look into what happened to Mashdaria, Ningirama, and their daughter's powers. And for six years Kur's powers kept quiet while his spirit rested. But something awakened those powers; my guess is that you, Iris, discovered your Kur powers and your other powers. All the cryptids of the world waited anxiously to know if Kur would arise again." Atka pauses so Zak can catch up with the translations. Then he continues.

"Kur's powers fell dormant again, but not those other powers of yours, Iris. They remained awake and active."

"Which explains why Argost took me the following year and why he got mad when my Kur powers were inactive."

"Yes. Five years later, Kur's powers were once again active. Zak, you kept them at bay for another year, until Kur's spirit was awakened on your twelfth birthday. And Iris, that was when you began to experience a change in your powers as they became stronger. Since the Second Cryptid War, as we cryptids have come to call it, and Kur was mostly drained from this world, your powers, Iris, have begun the process of returning to sleep. However, Rani Nagi saw that there was a little of Kur left in the world, so she began transferring the Kur in Iris to Zak. As the transfer continued, Kur's spirit began regenerating, and-"

"And my powers came back to life!"

"Yes. And since the powers of Mashdaria, Ningirama, and their child were supposed to keep Kur at bay before the first Cryptid War and their deaths, my theory is that you, Iris, were one of the three hosts chosen to have one of those powers. When the other two, your late siblings, died, their powers went to the one host who could handle all three without being ripped apart: you."

"But how did I end up with part of Kur in me?"

"Kur, being who and what he was, saw that having multiple hosts could prevent his second downfall. When he realized that the other powers were also present, he left traces in each of you before choosing Zak as his host. When Miah and Eli, your late siblings, passed, Kur saw he couldn't take you, Iris, so he went to Zak."

"Wait, freeze!" Zak cries. "Iris holds the powers that were supposed to keep Kur at bay? How does that help us lift the Curse?" Atka sighs.

"Only Rani Nagi knows." I hug Atka's neck and thank him for his help. Then Atka disappears into the woods as Ms. Grey comes storming out of the airship.

"Don't expect to see me ever again, you ungrateful prat!" Ms. Grey calls into the airship.

"Good riddance, you shrew!" Doyle calls back. Then Ms. Grey blasts off on her jetpack and flies away. Zak and I look at each other and laugh. At least we know Doyle will sleep tonight.

AB: I so bet you all saw that coming. Everybody does it. The whole main-character-is-secretly- the-chosen-one idea is overused, I know, but I liked the idea of Iris being the equal and opposite to Zak. It ties back to what Doc told Zak in the second episode of the show.

Zak: I liked the ending with Doyle and Abbey.

AB: You and me both, Zak. Alright, my beautiful Butterflies! That is all for this week, but the final chapter will be posted next week. I find it so hard to believe that Kur Unfurled is drawing to a close! Thank you all so much for reading! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!